Euro drama charts Rise of the Ravens
FIRST LOOK: Here’s the first image of Rise of the Ravens, a series based on the books by Hungarian author Bán Mór and billed as one of the most epic European TV productions of all time.
The 10-hour series follows the life of army commander Janos Hunyadi who, in gruelling 15th century medieval Europe, scores a decisive victory against all odds at the Battle of Belgrade, re-shaping the history of Europe.
Hunyadi’s life is plagued by scandal, political power plays, and conspiracies between noble families from Italy, Poland, Austria, Serbia, and Hungary. His strongest allies are the women in his life: Elizabeth, the wife who not only stands by him, but fights alongside him, and Mara Brankovic, his first love, who breaks his heart by becoming lead concubine in Sultan Murad’s court.
When the Ottoman Empire mobilises an army of unprecedented size to march west with the objective of conquering the Vatican and Europe, Hunyadi leads his small but mighty army to the battlefield, sealing a hard-fought victory. In celebration, Pope Callixtus III orders that churches all over the world shall ring their bells each day at noon. And even today, more than five centuries later, they still do.
Produced by Robert Lantos (Sunshine), the series stars discovery Gellert L Kadar as Janos Hunyadi, the army commander who defeated the vast Ottoman army in the Battle of Belgrade in 1456. Torn between family and duty, Hunyadi re-shapes Europe’s history against geopolitical intrigues within his own ranks.
Hungary’s Vivien Rujder portrays Elizabeth, with the international cast also including Austria’s Laurence Rupp (Barbarians), Cornelius Obonya (Maria Theresa), Murathan Muslu (Breaking Point), Italy’s Giancarlo Giannini (Casino Royale) and Francesco Acquaroli (Fargo), Czech actor Karel Roden (Bourne Supremacy), Serbian star Rade Serbedzija (Batman Begins), as well as Italian actors Thomas Trabacchi (Studio Battaglia) and Elena Rusconi (6 Underground).
Lantos said: “TS Eliot once wrote that between the dream and the reality there lies the shadow. Throughout my entire career I have been battling this shadow. Finally, with Rise of the Raven, the shadow has been vanquished. This time, the dream is the reality.”
Directors are Robert Dornhelm (Children of Theatre Street, Orsi Nagypal (The Deal) and Attila Szasz (Tall Tales). The showrunner is Balazs Lengyel (Golden Life), who also directs one episode. The series is written by Lengyel, George Mihalka, Balazs Lovas, Zsófia Ruttkay, Attila Veres and Mor.
It is produced by Serendipity Point Films, Twin Media, HG Media, MR Film and Beta Film. Coproducers are Hungary’s TV2 Network, which will broadcast in Hungary and Slovenia, and ORF, which will broadcast in Austria. Beta Film is handling international sales.
Also producing are Tibor Krsko (Fateless), Cecilia Hazai, Kinga Hazai and Ari Lantos (Remember), alongside Oliver Auspitz and Andreas Kamm of MR Film (Vienna Blood) and Koby Gal Raday, Beta Film’s CCO.
tagged in: Beta Film, HG Media, MR Film, Rise of the Ravens, Serendipity Point Films, Twin Media